Released Hostages Were Held in Harsh Conditions with Little Food

On Sunday, February 2, Israeli media reported new details on the harsh conditions in which Keith Siegel, Yarden Bibas, and Ofer Calderon were held before their release on Saturday.  

Keith was held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza City along with additional hostages. He was held in the tunnels but was mostly moved between apartments. According to him, the terrorists hid him in a back room so if someone entered the apartment they would not be able to find him.  

As for his diet in captivity, Keith says there was a severe lack of food. He returned starved since the last time the terrorists fed him was Friday afternoon. Although he is a vegetarian, he had to eat the meat provided to him by the terrorists to survive.

Ofer and Yarden were held together during the initial days of their captivity. They related how during the first weeks, the terrorists would hit them, lock them in cages, and torture them - both physically and mentally. 

During the long days in captivity, the two were moved from one place to another, underground and in buildings, and were held with other hostages. The terrorists treated Ofer as if he were a reserve soldier and therefore he was released on Saturday dressed in an IDF uniform. 

Yarden was taken from location to location in Khan Yunis and was held in an apartment and the tunnels. He underwent severe psychological abuse, with the terrorists constantly talking about his wife Shiri, and young children Kfir and Ariel, who are still being held by the terror group. He held on to hope in captivity and learned Arabic. (INN/VFI News) 

“Dear God, we pray that You heal the hostages who suffered immense abuse, and physical and psychological torture at the hands of Hamas. We also pray that You help our defense forces apprehend all those terrorists who exhibit this horrifying behavior toward innocents. We pray that they will be removed from society so they can harm no one else. May You heal all the victims and guide them into Your loving embrace for all the days of their lives. May they find comfort in You and come into salvation.”